Definitely Shantou. In 2016, Zhanjiang’s GDP was 258.5 billion and Shantou’s was 208.8 billion. Although Zhanjiang is taller than Shantou, Zhanjiang has nearly 2 million more people than Shantou, and its area is six times larger than Shantou. The per capita economy of Shantou is significantly higher. Although Shantou is the bottom special zone, the number of listed companies ranks third in Guangdong after Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Shantou's per capita GDP is not very good, but the number of registered trademarks by private enterprises is among the top 20 cities in the country. Industrial electricity consumption is equivalent to that of many provincial capital cities. Private capital activity and social consumption are also very high. In addition, Shantou has very high data such as car ownership, Engel coefficient, urbanization rate, and private enterprises that measure people's wealth. The disadvantages are that Shantou is too small in area, only 2,060 square kilometers, has too high a population density (the fourth largest city in the country), average urban construction, and a poor reputation.

Zhanjiang is a rising city. The strength of the urban area is not inferior to that of the Pearl River Delta, but the city as a whole is struggling.